Co-author of the report, associate professor Karen Campbell, says a diet high in salt, even at an early age, can increase blood pressure and put them at risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease later in life.

The study also found that the foods responsible for the salt intake in kids under the age of two were the same culprits responsible for contributing to the high salt intake in adults diets.

CHOICE investigated hidden salt in kids' food last year, and found that out of 240 aimed at kids, 49 products were high in salt, 140 had moderate levels and only 48 were low in salt.

“Parents naturally want to do the best by their children, however because salt is added to many of our daily basic foods, they are unintentionally feeding them diets too high in salt,” Campbell says.

Parents are unintentionally feeding their children diets too high in salt

- Associate professor Karen Campbell

She argues the findings highlight how important it is to reduce the amount of salt in our everyday foods. “Most children’s salt intakes are high and the lion’s share of the salt comes ‘hidden’ in everyday family foods.

“After reducing smoking, reductions in our salt intake are likely to be the most effective way to reduce heart disease across the population.”